Unity through Tragedy
Amidst bombings, political assassinations, and governmental corruption, there is little that held the nation of Colombia together in the late 1980’s. People lived in fear daily, as drug traffickers ruled the streets, and many died for simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Only one thing united the people during the chaos, and one thing that would bring about peace between enemies. In the middle of turmoil, soccer became the means through which the people of Colombia found their identity, and became stronger because of it.
Knowing that the people in power within your very own government are criminals and have done horrendous things is a terrifying and incredibly worrisome thought. This is what the citizens of Colombia were made to endure when Pablo Escobar was elected to the Chamber of Representatives in 1982. His outbursts against those who opposed his drug dealing and criminal endeavors were both brutally violent and harmful to many that were not in any way involved with his affairs. He often orchestrated the bombings of public buildings which housed those that had hurt his business, or targeted planes carrying those same individuals. This left hundreds of innocent citizens wounded or killed in the wake of his wrath, and having to live under the terror of never knowing when or where the next attack would take place petrified much of Colombia’s population.
There was little peace during those years, as poverty was rampant and many could not find decent places to live. One of the few things that did bring joy into the lives of people was soccer. Soccer was beloved by all in Colombia, and still is. During these darker times in Colombia’s history, the sport flourished, and brought many people from opposite lifestyles together to enjoy something they all loved dearly. Pablo Escobar himself had a hand in promoting the sport throughout the nation and built soccer fields for many small towns and schools. These acts of kindness on his part blurred the lines of his morality for some, as he gave selflessly to those he loved and who were in need, yet slaughtered those who opposed him.
The Colombian national team had players from all over the country who had grown up on the fields he had built, and were the best of friends with him, often being invited to his mansion for a friendly game or to simply relax. Their love of a man who was a known criminal did not sway the fans, however, as they were more united than ever before due to the success of the team. The team would go on to qualify for the 1994 World Cup, were Andres Escobar (not related to Pablo Escobar) would tragically score a goal into his own net, losing the match against the United States. This loss would prevent Colombia from advancing to the next round, and cast the nation into both anger and sorrow. Sadly, Andres Escobar would be murdered shortly after due to the own goal incident, and all of Colombia would mourn.
The loss of Andres meant the loss of someone who, like Pablo, had put his heart and soul into the sport, and spent his life making it available to all. Unlike Pablo, he kept himself on the better side of the law and made it his priority to unite the nation with soccer, rather than divide it because of rivalries. To this day, Andres Escobar is mourned, and fans still bring pictures of him to games as a remembrance of all that he contributed to the sport. The efforts on his part to see his nation become a better and more united place came to be, as soccer remains the favorite sport of Colombia, and Escobar, one of its patron saints.
